Ironing table



Feb. 8, 1955 Filed NOV. 5, 1950 C. H. REWALD, JR

IRONING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

Feb. 8, 1955 c, w JR 2,701,425

IRONING TABLE Filed Nov. 3, 1950 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent IRONING TABLE Charles H. Rewald, Jr., Willow Grove, Pa., assignor to Proctor Electric Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 3, 1950, Serial No. 193,943

2 Claims. (Cl. 38-121) This invention relates to ironing tables and more particularly to an improved construction which will lighten the housewifes onerous task of ironing. The invention is especially directed to the type of ironing table which permits the housewife to sit, instead of standing, while ironing.

One of the serious conditions that makes conventional ironing a tiresome, tedious chore is the fact that it is usually done in a standing position. The tendency, therefore, in modern ironing has been towards the provision of devices that permit the user to iron in a seated position. However, during sit-down ironing of large surfaces or in situations where it is necessary to use the nose of the ironing surface and then another portion of the ironing surface in consecutive steps, the user must either do an undue amount of stretching or rearranging of the work, or move the chair on which she is seated to another position along the table.

It -is therefore the major object of this invention to provide means to permit the user, especially if she is seated, to move the ironing table to and fro in front of the user with minimum elfort.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means to permit the user not only to move the ironing surface to and fro with minimum efiort, but also to permit the user to wheel the ironing table to a convenient location for storing.

A further object is to provide means for rendering the aforementioned means inoperative when desired. Specifically, an object of this invention is to provide means of render the wheeling means inoperative after the table has been wheeled to the storing location and the table is made to assume a vertical position. A further specific object is the provision of means to prevent the wheeling means from rotating when it is desired to do heavy ironing, for it has been found that under such heavy ironing there is a tendency for the supporting members to flex and for the table to move to a limited degree.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of wheels on at least the front or rear support members of an ironing table. Brake or locking members are provided to prevent rotation of the wheels when it is so desired, while snubbers are additionally provided to prevent engagement of the wheels with the floor when the table is collapsed and in a substantially vertical storing position.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an ironing table embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing more clearly one of the brake detents;

Fig. 3 shows a user moving the ironing table to and fro while seated adjacent the table;

Fig. 4 illustrates the manner of moving the table, While in its collapsed position, to a storing location and the placing of the table against a vertical surface of storing;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of Fig. 6, with the wheel shown in phantom;

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of the support bracket; and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the brake member.

The present invention is shown in Fig. l embodied as an improvement in the ironing table disclosed in the copending application of H. E. Hortman, Serial No. 155,435, filed April 12, 1950 and assigned to the assignee of the present application. The table comprises a top portion or ironing surface 1, a front leg support 2, and a rear leg support 3, the leg supports being pivotally interconnected to support the ironing table top. Front leg 2 is fixedly hinged to the top at 4 while the rear leg 3 is slidably hinged to the top at 5 to provide for different height adjustments. The height adjusting mechanism disposed beneath the top at 6 controls the angle between the front and rear legs through manual latch members 7 and 8. Reference may be had to the Hortman application for a detailed disclosure of this mechanism and other constructional features of the ironing table.

Identical wheel assemblies 9 and 10 are disposed at the ends of a transverse tubular member 11 which forms the lower portion of the rear support 3. Similarly a second transverse tubular member 12 forms the lower portion of the front support 2. This latter member is arranged to swivel to compensate for unevenness in the supporting floor, as fully disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,546,097, issued March 20, 1951 to H. F. Hild. Cup-shaped rubber members 13 and 14 are provided at the ends of the transverse member 12 to serve as floor-engaging members.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 9 for the details of the wheel assemblies 9 and 10, it will be seen that each assembly comprises a U-shaped supporting bracket 15, a bearing stud 16 disposed in holes 17 and 18 in said bracket, and a Wheel 19 freely mounted on said bearing stud 16. The stud is swaged over at 20, sufiicient clearance being provided between the bracket and the wheel so that the latter can turn freely.

The wheel 19 may be composed of any suitable material but it is preferably composed of rubber selectively cured so as to give a relatively hard core and a softer area adjacent the periphery. This provides a wheel with good structural as well as good tread properties.

Rotation of the wheel 19 on the stud 16 can be prevented by the locking action of a bolt 21 slidably and rotatably supported in holes 22 and 23 in bracket 15, the bolt coacting with one of a plurality of blind holes or recesses 24 provided in the wheel. These holes or recesses are formed with a tapered cross section while chamfer 25 is provided at the mouth of the hole to permit easy entry of the end of the bolt 21 therein. The holes are equally spaced ina circular arrangement, with minimum spacing to further facilitate entry of the bolt into one of the holes.

The bolt member 21 is L-shaped and of circular cross section and is rounded at 26 to pilot its insertion into the wheel holes. The bolt is normally biased by a spring 27 towards the wheel-locking position. Spring 27, of the helical form, bears against one leg of the bracket 15 and acts on bolt 21 through a friction-held washer 28. Hole 23 in the leg of bracket 15 adjacent the wheel is elongated in a direction radially of the wheel to facilitate the action of the bolt and to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and wear.

To permit the wheel 19 to rotate freely, the turned end of the bolt 21 is disposed in a detent slot 29 (see Fig. 2) formed in the wall of the transverse tubular leg 11. The slot 29 is generally L-shaped to provide a detent portion 29a for holding the bolt in retracted position against the action of spring 27. The dot-and-dash illustrations of Figs. 5 and 6 show the bolt in detained retracted position. A similar detent slot is provided adjacent the other end of the transverse tube 11 for cooperation with the bolt of its associated wheel assembly.

For securing the wheel and associated mechanism to the transverse tubular member 11, a screw 30 passing through the tube at 31 is threadedly engaged with the base of the bracket 15 at 32. The same screw also secures a snubber member 33 to the tubular member. The snubber, preferably made of rubber, has a general frustro-conical shape, a concave upper surface 34 to accommodate the cylindrical surface of the tubular member, and a centrally disposed countersunk hole 35. The screw 30 shoulders on a flanged eyelet 36 located in the countersunk hole so that the securing action of the screw is through the eyelet 36, through the tubular member 11 at its reinforced seam area 37 and to the base of the bracket'15. To index the wheelassemblyinto position-inthe tubular member a projection 38 on bracket cooperates with a cutout 39 in the tubular member.

It should be notedlthat the U-shaped bracket 15-is1 generally in line with the:axis-of.the.snubber:33 andthat' this axis is disposed at approximately degrees from the longitudinal axis'of the rear support. apparent from the descriptionto. follow, the. disposition of the snubbers at this angle is of importance'toobtain a non-slip supporting action when the table is retracted and in a vertical position and also so-as not to. interfere with the moving of the table back andforth during .ironing or when it is desired to wheel the table to its storing.

location,

During normal ironing therubber cups213 and 14 on the front leg and the two wheels19 onxthe' rear support engage the floor, and the bolts 21 are in their retracted position without having to move the chair onwhich she is. seated. If the user has heavier ironing to do, it maybe desirable to flick the bolts 21 on wheel assemblies 9-and 10 out of their detent positions and into wheel-locking position. By merely moving the short leg of thebolt 21 out of the detent slot 29a the forward end 26 of the bolt will be carried into oneof the holes 24 under the bias of spring 27. The bolts are disposed and arranged for easy manipulation by the users foot whether for releasing the wheels or locking them in'fixed position.

When it is desired to store the table, the user may lift the forward end of the table slightly and wheel the-table lifted thusly to the storing position. Thenthe table may be collapsed and stored in its vertical. position. If desired, the user may collapse the table at the ironing location and wheel the table, as shown in Fig. 4, and then similarly store the table by'standing it in itsvertical position. In the vertical position the snubbers' 33 engagethe floor and prevent the tablefrom slipping from that position. Further, in the vertical storing position the 'snubbers act to raise the rear end of the top 1 ofi. the floor and prevent soiling of the ironing table cover.

The ironing table construction provided by this invention greatly facilitates the chore of the housewife during ironing. It permits the user to sit while ironing and to remain seated during the entireprocess. It permitsfull utilization of the table surface when the user is'performing ironing while seated. Further, it permits the user to move the table to its storing. locationwith a minimum of elfort and exertion.

While a preferred embodiment of. the invention has been shown and described, the invention contemplates various modifications which will be' apparent to those skilled in the art and which do not involve departure from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an ironing table, a table top having an ironing surface, a pair of pivotally interconnected crossed support members having free lower ends and providing an adjustable and collapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connection between said top and the upper end of one of said members, a slidable pivot connection As will. be

between said top and the upper end of the other support member, manually controllablemeans on said top for latching the slidable pivot in different positions when the table is set up for use enabling the positioning of said top at various heights including relatively low heights for sit-down ironing, the collapsing of said members enabling storing of the table in a generallyvertical position against a vertical surface, said members furnishing stable support for the table when his set up for use, a transverse tubular foot member of substantial length at the lowest portion of at least one of said support members, a studmounting member-located within each end of said tubular foot member, studs extending from the ends of said tubular member substantially in coaxial relation therewith, wheels of greater diameter than said tubular member mounted on said studs, saidwheels enabling movement of the table to and fro in front of the user during ironing by slightly tilting the table upward on the wheels to lift the other support member from the floor, said wheels also facilitating. storing of the table when in collapsed condition, and a pair of friction support elements fixedly secured to said foot member adjacent to the respective Wheels and extending from said foot member beyond the floor-engaging surfaces of said wheels at a predetermined angle-to the longitudinal axis'of the wheel-equipped support member to engage the floor and lift the wheels therefrom When the suport member is turned upwardly on said wheels to a generally vertical position during storing of the ironing table.

2. In an ironing table, a table top having an ironing surface, adjustable and collapsible support members to which said top is secured, adjustment of said members when the table is set up for use enabling the positioning of said top at various heights including relatively low heights for sit-down ironing, and the collapsing of said members enabling storing of the table in a generally vertical positionagainst a vertical surface, said members furnishing stable. support for the table when it is set up for use, a tubular transverse foot member of substantial length at the lowest portion of at least one of said support members, a bracket within each end of said foot member, a screw securing each bracket to the foot member, a wheel carriedby each bracket at each end of the footmember, the wheels enabling movement of the table to and fro in front of t he user during ironing and also facilitating storing of the table, when in collapsed condition, and a friction support element adjacent each wheel and-secured to-said foot member by the aforementioned screw, the support'elements extending from said foot member beyond the floor-engaging surfaces of said wheels at. a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of the wheel-equipped member to engage the floor and lift the Wheels therefrom when the support member is turned upwardly on said wheels to a generally vertical position duringstoring of the ironing table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 903,121 Wentzell Nov. 3, 1908 1,423,366- Snook July 18, 1922 1,429,966- Olsen Sept. 26, 1922 1,733,195 Johnson Oct. 29, 1929 1,794,838 Doman Mar. 3, 1931 1,828,248 Hallowell et al; Oct. 20, 1931 1,953,900 Wolters Apr. 3, 1934 2,505,317 Wilson Apr. 25, 1950 

